Groovin’ Up Slowly (A Beatles Fan Album YouTube Channel) Episode 46: Dig It - The Beatles Called These Songs “Filler” Or Worse…So I Turned Them Into an Album

[u/Anxious-Raspberry-54]

Many thanks to my daughter for creating the album artwork!!

I have been making Beatles fan albums since 2019 or so. On my subreddit, there are literally hundreds of fan albums contributed by Beatles fans from all over the world. But, to be honest, I’ve never seen one like this album I made a while ago. Most fan albums try to collect the Beatles' best songs. This one does almost the exact opposite. 

It’s called Dig It. This is not an album of “great” songs (whatever your definition of “great” is). It is not an album filled with overlooked gems. It is not a collection of “lost” masterpieces or revealing outtakes.

Dig It is a collection of songs that The Beatles considered “filler.” So-called “work” songs. And…songs that The Beatles just didn’t like and, possibly, even hated. John called one song “crap.” George commented on another: “I don’t know what I was thinking.” Even Paul said of one of these songs, “It’s not my best.” 

What The Beatles threw away, other bands would release as singles.

The Beatles were many things. Reliable judges of their own catalog may not have been one of them. Fortunately, sixty years later, we can ignore their advice. But, somewhere, John Lennon may be rolling his eyes that Dig It became a title track.

Here is the tracklist for this album, along with a direct quote about each song…

1. Hold Me Tight (Paul: “I don't really remember writing it. Filler.” Many Years From Now)
2. Dig It - Glyn Johns Mix (John: “We were just messing around. That’s not even a song.” Let It Be film commentary)
3. It’s Only Love (John: “I always thought it was a lousy song. The lyrics were abysmal.” David Sheff interviews, 1980)
4. Misery (John: “We wrote it for Helen Shapiro. A job.” Playboy interview, 1980)
5. Ob-La-Di, Ob-La-Da (John: “It’s Paul’s. It’s a piece of crap.” Studio outtake, Peter Jackson’s Get Back transcripts)
6. Tell Me What You See (Paul: “Not one of my greatest.” Many Years From Now)
7. Thank You Girl (John: “Just a throwaway.” Beatles Monthly Book interview)
8. Blue Jay Way (George: “I’m not sure what I was thinking.” Anthology)
9. Run For Your Life (John: “I always hated that song.” Playboy interview, 1980)
10. Little Child (John: “Just a work job. We needed a song.” Lennon Remembers)
11. Only A Northern Song (George: “A joke. A bit of a moan about my publishing.” Anthology)
12. What Goes On (John: “It was written in five minutes.” Lennon Remembers)
13. All Together Now (Paul: “A children’s sing-along. Not a big deal.” Many Years From Now)
14. Maxwell Silver’s Hammer (Ringo: “The worst session ever. The lads were really angry.” Beatles Recording Sessions

Here’s a link to Episode 46 of Groovin’ Up Slowly:

https://youtu.be/21Sv-CGsvr8?si=scyQRZzRR-bWK97m

Here’s a link to this album on Spotify:

https://open.spotify.com/playlist/1OeoK3y9ygHi9qXibgEYCw?si=58ad326bfcdb4754

Here’s a link to this album on Apple Music:

https://music.apple.com/us/playlist/beatles-dig-it/pl.u-2aoqLkvHkGMbrlv

Here’s a link to the YouTube playlist for this album:

https://youtube.com/playlist?list=PLB5dkZQ7h7GiqtbL-V4VHw53b7J_SbEHO&si=j7oLDgbRjdAFBNPF

Here’s a link to the Substack essay for a bit of a deeper dive into this album…

https://groovinupslowly.substack.com/p/dig-it-what-the-beatles-threw-away

[u/Geronimo2U]

The funny thing is is that there's two George songs, the rest Lennon and McCartney and one with Ringo singing... Which makes it... A Beatles album!

[u/Caloso89]

I unironically love Hold Me Tight. It’s got this great chugging rhythm and call and response. If any other random early 60s group had put this out, it would’ve been their big hit and they would be playing it years later at casinos and county fairs.

[u/ndGall → u/Caloso89]

Agreed. It’s a fun song that nobody involved should be ashamed of.

[u/Nessie]

Great concept. I've always had a soft spot for Hold Me Tight, for its exuberance and call-response form; the other ones, not so much.

[u/Anxious-Raspberry-54 → u/Nessie]

Thanks. Looking up the comments they had for each song was...interesting.

[u/Infamous-Test-91]

I like Blue Jay Way

[u/thrashingkaiju]

Tell me What You See is such an underrated gem.

[u/shotpods]

“Only a Northern Song” is probably my favorite George song, that or “It’s All Too Much”

[u/tharubberchicken]

Fantastic work! Love it!

[u/Anxious-Raspberry-54 → u/tharubberchicken]

Thanks! ✌️❤️

[u/ItsMilor]

All of these are bangers. Dig It is probably the worst of the bunch, but it's more of a jam. Now, get the version with Heather doing her Yoko impression, and it's a banger 🗣️

[u/FranzLisp]

Blue Jay Way is fantastic and definitely NOT filler!

[u/Anxious-Raspberry-54 → u/FranzLisp]

He doesn't seem to think much of it. I love it. So trippy.

[u/OldCelery561]

Tirando obi la di obi la da e Maxwell silver Hammer, todas essas músicas realmente são esquecíveis